For some in Government, the long parliamentary recess isn't turning out to be the type of restful "break" which may have been anticipated. Some quarters of the PP may argue that a "break" of sorts does actually exist. Just not how members would prefer it to be. Others insist currents of change and spinoff undercurrents are not unexpected in a 14-month-old coalition whose underpinnings are being secured. Free of the weekly parliamentary fight with the Opposition, Government is weighted with external challenges with trade unions and a spiralling homicide rate-and also, apparently, internally regarding Works Minister Jack Warner. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's biggest challenge in any sector to date looms ahead with her face-off with unions next Tuesday. In preparation for this, Government has trotted out new frontline defence including Ministers Bhoe Tewarie and Vasant Bharath alongside Suruj Rambachan and others.
Warner, traditionally Government's chief warrior in Parliament, is conspicuously absent from the line-up and not even his recent card game with NUGFW has softened unions' stance-at least towards Government. (What Warner may have come away from the card table in terms of personal sway with unions is another matter.) Following the recent Cabinet realignment which slashed Warner's ministerial responsibilities, the verdict expected today from FIFA's Ethics Committee on bribery allegations against Qatar's Mohamed bin Hammam is expected to further spotlight Warner -whether the pronouncement is good or bad. Warner, suspended from FIFA when the allegations arose against him and bin Hammam, subsequently resigned from the organisation. He is yet to be convinced that the cloud caused by the issue resulted in his portfolio cut. After public grousing from Warner and COP MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan about their portfolio changes came Persad-Bissessar's confirmation last Friday that she was unhappy about "communication," "disjointed different" statements from some ministers and the absence of a united Government voice. Following this came allegations and queries from Nipdec deputy chairman Hamlyn Jailal-of UNC's Tunapuna unit-concerning an issue involving Warner's Highways Director, Roger Ganesh.
Ganesh had to step down from the ministry's evaluation team regarding road paving contracts ranging between $1 million and $20 million (Nipdec officials claimed) which his son-in-law allegedly received.
Jailal and Ganesh have fallen out on the issue, now being probed by Nipdec. Warner has not commented on how the allegations could affect the image of the Government. In the "unity" melding of the PP, Warner had been chief frontliner until the realignment diminished his role. Yesterday, as Warner geared for the FIFA verdict overseas, his mind was also on events at home. Warner said, "In the public domain there's a lot of talk about moves against me inside and outside the Government. "I have no concrete evidence of that and until such time I don't want to act or say anything in that regard. At some point perception will either give way to reality-or everything will dissipate. Let's see. "But since June 7, the Ganesh matter in the ministry was settled when Ganesh stepped off the evaluation team. Ask yourself why is this matter being reactivated now and letters from the Attorney General on it are being highlighted?" Warner added, "There are things being leaked from ministers' desks and Nipdec's desk and things being leaked from Cabinet meetings left, right and centre. "All of this seems calculated. While it will be dishonest of me to say it is not disturbing, I don't think it's having the effect some people desire. But connect the dots. As I say, I have no concrete evidence, but I'll get the evidence if there's any..."
Verdict against bin Hammam could hurt Jack
How much of an issue the situation could become may be determined by FIFA's verdict. While Warner's resignation from FIFA may have circumvented the probe and any possible direct negative verdict against him (and T&T), it has not laid the matter to rest locally. Bin Hammam initially said he had "convincing grounds" of his innocence to offset the "compelling evidence" FIFA's committee said it held. However, one of Warner's Caribbean Football Union employees, Trinidadian Angenie Kanhai, has given FIFA alleged details placing Warner on the spot in the issue. Bin Hammam yesterday said he felt FIFA had already deemed him guilty. Any such verdict against bin Hammam will, by extension, jeopardise Warner's Government standing. A local legal probe of the FIFA issue will then become inevitable. If bin Hammam is cleared, Warner's standing could be strengthened and another (political) ball game will ensue.
Warner's comment that bin Hammam would be vindicated "in the end" and that Warner would speak about FIFA at the right time has telegraphed that Warner's 30-year FIFA stint has given him ample fodder for cannon fire. But if he escapes "injury" in the verdict, an earlier hint that he might return to FIFA brings to mind the fact that the Concacaf presidency (the basis of Warner's former FIFA vice presidency) remains vacant-a ready re-entry mechanism. The FIFA issue had prompted calls for Warner to resign while the probe was on, or step down permanently to remove Government and T&T from the nega- tive spotlight caused by the matter. Similar calls had applied to Sasha Mohammed, the PM's former events adviser, when the alleged e-mail attack on the Express arose. Mohammed resigned Wednesday to legally challenge the paper on it. The example set by her resignation may revive calls for Warner to do the same if any indictment on the FIFA issue-or a local probe-arises.
PM's UNC control reinforced
Bereft of wide-ranging ministerial authority, Warner's power is confined more largely to his chairmanship on the party side, an area which he now has more time to devote to. His recent higher-profile visiting Works projects has increased his ground contact to the extent that some PP members believe he is "campaigning" for support. Before, his FIFA and Transport responsibilities had apparently kept Warner busy. Persad-Bissessar at Wednesday's National Executive (Natex) meeting confirmed it was the first meeting since May 4-before the FIFA issue arose-and that Warner had "expressed a need" for a meeting. If Warner's summoning of the meeting showed he's in charge of the party, Persad-Bissessar's appointment of Dave Tancoo as general secretary in turn signalled that she remains the boss of everyone.
The appointment of Tancoo-an adviser at PM's office-has placed Persad-Bissessar directly in the loop regarding UNC planning, organisation and management, which a general secretary spearheads. Tancoo's immediate challenge includes bridging the lurking gaps that could threaten stability. He appears to be held in high regard by both past and current UNC regimes. Former UNC leader/chairman Basdeo Panday says Tancoo is a "fairly competent fellow." Current chairman Warner adds, "I've heard he's very bright and competent-I know we can work together," Persad-Bissessar's support on Natex is already strong given the last executive election of young officials who swept away the former team. Persad-Bissessar's reinforced position within UNC via the new general secretary is further complemented by fact that the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP) is now under her control and three UNC ministers, Chandresh Sharma, Vasant Bharath and Ramadharsingh. The arrangement appears geared to quell complaints which arose from supporters about lack of jobs-among issues noted at Wednesday's Natex. While it strengthens the power base of the PM and the three ministers, the measure entrenches perception that government control is concentrated among a handful of Persad-Bissessar's MPs. Warner's recent insinuation about an inner "kitchen Cabinet" has not been cleared up by the PM.
MP left out
Nor have claims by shifted Minister Seepersad-Bachan that some of those ministers were against her.
Seepersad-Bachan had said she had been seeking Ramadhar-singh's assistance in her constituency for social services, yet had not received a reply. Following Warner's declaration that he would help Seepersad-Bachan win the seat again, her constituency was asked to be part of a UNC mobilisation effort by Ramadharsingh's ministry today, also targeting San Fernando East and Pointe-a-Pierre. However, Seepersad-Bachan was not informed of the programme, it was confirmed. Whatever lies ahead for Warner post-FIFA pronouncement will also include corresponding implications for his party post. Ministerial grousing following the realignment sparked speculation about contestants for UNC's next executive election in six months and the leadership election in 2013. UNC officials said several more experienced ministerial faces are expected to be elected to the executive to balance the organisational inexperience of youthful members now dominating the team.
Following Wednesday's Natex, Persad-Bissessar further stamped her authority on her team at Thursday's Cabinet meeting when she frankly told several ministers she was disappointed with them, it was confirmed. They included Education's Tim Gopeesingh, on an issue regarding contractors for schools, sources added. Also reproached was Art's Winston Peters on his failure regarding the emancipation group issue, which could have jeopardised PP's African support. Peters had already raised the ire of the Hindu SDMS vote recently when Sat Maharaj complained of Peters' absence from functions. Persad-Bissessar intervened to resolve the emancipation issue-something she's had to do too often in her Government's tenure and is on the spot again with, regarding Tuesday's union caucus. How her administration fares with the fall-out of Warner's issues (and concerns) remains to be unfold.